#1000th follower request

[the-badger-mole]

On the Clearest Night: 1K Followers Special

So, I hit 1K followers! For a while, I really didn't think I'd get to this point, but I did it! Somehow... Do I get a trophy or a cash prize or....? In honor of this illustrious occasion, I've reached out to my 1,000th follower and asked them if they had a prompt they wanted me to and they chose Painted/Blue. Here's the result. Thanks to everyone who followed me because of some random post I made and didn't unfollow me when I didn't live up to your expectations. Thanks to @iromiak for being number 1,000! Couldn't have done it without you! And I promise I will continue providing the nonsense you expect from my blog until I get bored and leave forever.

And now! Tonight's feature presentation:

On the Clearest Night

He couldn't decide if she was truly a spirit or not. Zuko had come at his father's request to Jang Hui to investigate the explosion at the arms factory. When he arrived he was confronted by two different versions of the story. The soldiers protecting the armory gave a report of a dark-clad vigilante leading a highly organized team armed with sophisticated explosives acting during the night. The citizens on the other hand told a tale of a river spirit appearing in the form of a beautiful young woman healing the sick, clearing up the river and ridding them of the factory that had nearly destroyed their way of life for good. One side was near rabid with the desire for retribution, and the other side spoke in hushed awe about their savior.

"That's enough,' the boy's mother took his hand and nearly dragged him away from Zuko. She smiled apologetically. "He insists he saw the Painted Lady, but the truth is none of us got a good look at her face. The veil, you know."

"I did see," the boy grumbled unhappily. "Mama said I would have died if the Painted Lady hadn't returned to help us."

"Then I'm glad she was here," Zuko said sincerely.

Still, he had a job to do. His father had entrusted him to find out what had happened to one of the most important armories in the country and to bring the guilty parties to justice. To his relief, Zuko was able to clear the half-starved, ragged villagers of any wrongdoing. He made a note with his secretary to have some sort of aid set up for the village. The soldiers from the armory weren't thrilled about sharing their rations, but it would do until Zuko could get back to Caldera and make more permanent arrangements for relief. He would have to ask his father about assigning a minister to look into how a village like Jang Hui could be allowed to fall so far through the cracks and make sure there were no other such oversights. It was bad enough that he was beginning to hear rumbles of dissent about the draconian conscription laws, the Fire Nation couldn't afford crisis-level poverty, besides.

Zuko stayed in the village another two days, gathering as many clues and leads as he could. There was something strange about the first-hand accounts from the villagers that he couldn't quite place. It was as if they were being careful about saying too much. He heard all about the people who had been brought back from the brink of death by the Painted Lady, and about the stores of food that had been laid at the doorstep of the worst-off families. He'd heard about her ethereal beauty, but they all stopped just short of any truly pertinent details.

"The soldiers said that she was human," a young boy told Zuko. "That she was from outside the Fire Nation, but I saw her! Her eyes were silver and she floated on the river with no raft. "

"That's enough,' the boy's mother took his hand and nearly dragged him away from Zuko. She smiled apologetically. "He insists he saw the Painted Lady, but the truth is none of us got a good look at her face. The veil, you know."

"I did see," the boy grumbled unhappily. "Mama said I would have died if the Painted Lady hadn't returned to help us."

"Then I'm glad she was here," Zuko said sincerely.

The day Zuko was supposed to leave, there was a sudden stir in the village center. A small group had arrived from a neighboring village, having heard about the troubles in Jang Hui. They bore what scant supplies they could spare and interesting news.

"We've been visited by the Painted Lady," a middle-aged woman said as she passed out blankets and farming tools. "She cured a few that was ailin', and then she told us that you lot would need some help to finish getting back on your feet."

"You spoke to her?" Zuko asked, pushing his way forward to the newcomers. "Directly?" The woman and her companions blinked in surprise. Someone quickly let them know who he was, and they all dropped down into deep bows.

"Please, you don't need to do that," Zuko insisted, somewhat impatiently. "I just want to know if you got a good look at her. Is she a spirit or is she human?" The villagers of Jang Hui stilled and seemed to hold their breath. Zuko tried not to notice.

"I can't say any of us got a good look at her, your highness," the woman said hesitantly. "There was a heavy fog, and she was covered from head to toe in a long, flowing robe. All any of us who were there could see was something glowing in her hands when she touched the sick, and the red markings along her arms. Then she was gone as if she'd never been there." Someone behind Zuko let out a breath that sounded like a relieved sigh. His mouth pulled down slightly at the corners. It seemed he had gotten as much information out of Jang Hui as he was likely to get. He asked the newcomers where they'd come from, and he ordered his men to prepare to follow that trail at dawn the next day.

That night, Zuko's men went to bed early in preparation, but Zuko couldn't turn in quite yet. He made his way to the edge of the river. He'd been told that up until a few days before, it had been thick and dark with the sludge from the factory. It was unfishable, undrinkable, and useless for anything except disposing of waste, but it was the lifeline of the village. Tonight the water was still murky, though Zuko could make out the riverbed in the shallow water. In a few days more, it would run clear again. Zuko frowned. Had his father known that this factory had almost killed a village?

A rustling in the bushes behind him startled Zuko. He had spun around into a defensive crouch before he really registered what he'd heard. An elderly man, who Zuko had seen lurking near the edges of his conversations with the villagers, approached. He was frail-looking, all bent and leathery with his skin stretched tightly across knobby, arthritic bones. Zuko didn't think he was a threat, but he didn't let his guard down either.

"Do you need something?" he asked uncertainly.

"I wanted a chance to speak to you," the old man said. "I didn't think I'd get to before you left in the morning, but I think perhaps I'm meant to after all." Zuko stared at him in confusion for a moment.

"What do you need from me?" he asked, not impolitely.

"I just wanted to say that in all the years we'd been begging for help from Caldera, this was the first time we'd felt we'd been heard."

"Oh," Zuko dropped his fists and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "I...I just wish we could have done more. When I get home, I'll look into a longer-term solution-"

"I am certain you will," the man cut him off. "And we would be grateful, but that's not what I meant. When the Painted Lady arrived, we were in the middle of dying, your highness. She found several of us breathing our last, and she saved us. Then she got rid of the source of our ills and gave us a second chance to perhaps thrive once again. As I'm sure you can imagine, we're a bit protective of our protector." Zuko's shoulders slumped. He was suddenly exhausted. All he wanted was to go home to his own bed and forget all about Jang Hui. He was certain this old man had much the same wish.

"I have to know who she is," Zuko said, almost apologetically. "If she's a spirit, I have to let the Fire Lord know so we can send the sages to look into this and figure out how to keep her happy. And if she's human...I know she was trying to help, but this," Zuko gestured to the looming husk of the factory. "I can't let her- or them- get away with this. I'll argue for leniency, but this was a crime."

"I understand," the old man said, shaking his head sadly.

"Do you know what she was?" Zuko pressed.

"I'm afraid I have no answer for you." The old man shrugged. "I don't know any human who could heal the dying, though."

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

The next few days were spent chasing rumors and picking up cold trails. It was just like old times, Zuko thought ruefully. Then he promptly shoved that thought away. It was a coincidence. Nothing more.

The Painted Lady had been spotted only once more since the visitors to Jang Hui told their story. Zuko thought he'd come close to an answer in a bustling town where he'd heard about two prisoners escaping a strangely built cell- wood, of all things in the Fire Nation- but there was even less information to be gathered than in the last two sightings. It was enough, though, to make Zuko suspect that perhaps they weren't chasing another ghost.

In another town, Zuko heard rumors of a spirit that only came out during the full moon and took the unwary in the woods. Zuko thought about investigating, but he soon caught word of another struggling town not too far away. It seemed a likely place for the Painted Lady to appear next. Besides, kidnapping people in the woods was the wrong MO. It was probably animals that snatched up careless wanderers (though perhaps, Zuko thought, it wouldn't be a bad idea to send someone to investigate soon).

The town that Zuko and his men arrived in was in terrible shape. It was in worse shape than he'd left Jang Hui in. Despite being a farming town in a year with a plentiful harvest, the people were starving. Starvation had been compounded with a wasting sickness that had already claimed what was estimated to be about a third of the population. That was the sanitized version that Zuko and his men had been given, but the young prince suspected that there was more to the story and that knowing more would make the situation look bleaker. But as with Jang Hui, the villagers were tight-lipped and unwilling to give anything up. It was frustrating to Zuko. After all, how could he help if he didn't know the whole of the problem? Still, he'd gathered enough to know that the Painted Lady hadn't been through yet, and he suspected it was only a matter of time before she did. It was time to send in someone who might have better luck on reconnaissance.

Zuko had a conversation with the captain of his guard that night. It had been a long journey, he acknowledged. Longer than he anticipated, and he knew that the men were getting anxious. The captain tried to assure Zuko that the men were fine, but Zuko insisted that they needed a break. Just a small one for the evening, and then they could pick up again tomorrow. The men caught a small wooly mountain elk and prepared it for a feast that evening. Someone even brought out a few bottles of strong arrack and passed them around. The feast flared up and fizzled quickly after the first few rounds of drinks, like a firework. Soon the men began to drop off around the camp. Some made it back to their cots and others just lay down where they were and fell into a deep sleep.

Zuko looked over them with a small tinge of guilt as he pulled on the Blue Spirit mask he'd smuggled in his bags. He didn't spike the bottles with anything harmful, but they would have a hard time waking the next morning. Zuko would be back by then.

The men had made impressive work of that evening's feast, but there was still a haunch and several smaller cuts of meat left. These Zuko bundled as best he could and carried it off towards the village. Finding the Painted Lady was his main goal, but he was glad to be able to be of use to his people, too.

The food Zuko deposited at the door of the woman who seemed to be the unofficial mayor of the town to be distributed by her the next day. Once that was done, Zuko found a roof and settled in to wait.

It didn't take long. Zuko had barely settled in his spot when a sudden, heavy bank of fog rolled in. At first, Zuko could see nothing, but he heard someone shuffling along through the mists. His heart caught in his throat when he saw the figure emerging. The light of the half-moon penetrated the fog enough to cast her in a silvery glow. Zuko could see the outline of the flowing robes she wore, and the droplets clinging to her gossamer veil caught the moonlight and made it appear as if she wore diamonds or stars to hide her face. And she was heading right for the house Zuko was on.

She entered quietly, and a moment later, Zuko saw a bluish, silver glow coming through the window. He crept to the edge of the roof and lowered his head and shoulders so he could see. It was just as he'd heard. The glow was coming from the Painted Lady's hands. She had them pressed to the chest of a young boy who was struggling to breathe. Zuko watched in terrified awe as a long, thin string of phlegm was drawn through the boy's mouth and discarded in the hearth of the nearby fireplace. When she was done, the boy was breathing easier already. She pressed her hands to his head next, and the boy sighed with relief before falling into a deeper, more restful sleep.

Her task done, the Painted Lady stood and headed back to the door. Zuko scrambled back onto the roof as quickly and as quietly as he could. He kicked a loose tile, causing it to skitter across the roof, but it feel into some bushes below, to his relief. He made back to his original hiding spot mere moments before the Painted Lady reemerged. He waited to see what she would do next. Move onto the next house, he thought, but she stopped suddenly and turned to the exact spot he'd been hiding.

"I know you're there." Zuko froze at her voice. He knew that voice. Why did he know that voice?

"You may as well come out," she continued. "I mean no one in the town harm, but if you refuse to show yourself, I'll have to assume you mean harm." The air grew colder suddenly, and Zuko saw vicious-looking shards appearing in the fog. Reluctantly, he stepped out of the shadows and stood at his full height. The Painted Lady looked up at him, and in the moonlight, he could see the red patterns painted on her bronze skin and a slight frown on her crimson lips. Mostly, though, his attention was caught by her startling eyes. He could just see them past her veil, glowing silver in the moon's rays.

"I know you," she gasped in surprise. "You're the Blue Spirit."

#atla #zutara #painted blue #1k followers special #1000th follower request #thanks for 1k! #let's do this again for 1500! #😁✌🏾 #leave a comment! #like! #reblog! #i live off attention #this wasn't supposed to be this long #but lol! what can ya do? #i hope you enjoyed it!

[enrichment--center]

drew glafos for myself for my birthday that i had 2 days back, but since i didn't had enough time, i didnt finish her on time. but nonetheless, her she is with her confetti 🥺

also im so close to hiting 1000th followers, so when i hit them, i have in plan to open requests thru out the entire week

they can be portal related or journey related as well!

#glados #portal 2 #journey #journey game #overgrown art #and yippee im now 22 years old😬

[tinylongwing]

What a treat to see that the first trio of my Bird ABC posts from -- checks -- yes last November, over a year ago, are suddenly on Tumblr’s radar, haha.

Thanks to all who came to check them out! I’ve just fixed the tags on the rest of my bird ABCs posts so that you can easily find all of them here.

Here are two I never posted that were done at the same time. I hit 1000 twitter followers for the first time while posting those, and did a little giveaway in celebration. Two people who were both right around being my 1000th follower (it’s always so hard to know who gets that spot exactly!) got to request additional birds, so here is a Palm Cockatoo and a Cedar Waxwing.

#birdblr #bird ABCs #cedar waxwing #palm cockatoo #cockatoo #waxwing #parrot #scientific illustration #sciart #bird art #birb #artists on tumblr

[sminiac]

hey!!

four days ago it was my 5 month being a roady and yechan is my bias since day 1 as a roady, could i request a bf!yechan headcanons?

remember to eat and to drink water !! 💜

💌 — I apologize for how late this is but 5 MONTHS!!! Love that for you bestie, of course you can <3

Bf!Yechan who always has to have proof of your existence on him one way or another. The type to spray your signature fragrance all over his clothes before he leaves- like, douses himself in it so the scent will stick longer. He generally likes the scent, but it also helps him fall asleep faster which is why he’s always asking for “just one more.” And If he happens to be wearing a hoodie be prepared to receive a plethora of pictures from the boys of him sleeping with the neck part pulled up to cover his nose :,)

Ex: Get him a candle a candle with the same notes as your fragrance and he’s gonna be sleeping gooood. Same with the actual fragrance, if you buy him the same scent he’d layer it over his usual, also likes spraying it on his pillow/blanket because then it feels like you’re really there with him :,)

Bf!Yechan who was the type to be affectionate with you even before things were official but only in a teasing manner because he was scared of everything suddenly coming to a stop once he confessed, and he’d rather have you platonically than not at all. Always putting in the effort to sit beside you, even if he had to physically drag someone out of their seat, holding your hand, arm around your shoulders if you were walking somewhere, pulling your legs to rest over his thighs. Feel like he’d try so hard to brush it off when his members became a little suspicious, like he didn’t have a huge, absolutely massive crush on you, but the amount of times a “Where’s Y/n?” was casually dropped it was kinda, sorta obvious.

Ex: suddenly he would barely touch you once you’re officially together without becoming incredibly nervous, so stiff and uncertain of himself, constantly asking: “Is this okay?” and he’s literally just laying his head on your shoulder? He’s so silly, just wants everything to be right with you. Once he’s past breaking that invisible barrier it’s hard to get him off, sweet koala boy😞

Bf!Yechan would absolutely curate a very intricately crafted playlist for you, listening along with you throughout the whole duration of it as if he hadn’t already spent so many hours editing it that he could recite the track titles with ease. Drops little fun facts about certain songs and as to why he specifically added them, and they’re such personalized picks, it’s either added for the lyrics or it’s a song the both of you like, or one he remembers from a certain moment with you.

Ex: he’d also make one for you with songs he likes atm/what he thinks you’d like :,) is always: “Baby we should listen to our playlist!”

Bf!Yechan who so blindly follows anything you say that if you were to request of him to leave and come back with a members shoe he’s doing just that 😭 no but he’s so sweet, if you forget to grab your jacket on the way out and quickly asking of him to go back and grab it for you he’s scurrying off, knowing there’ll be a kiss in return, does anything if it means that he’s being compensated with your affection, it’s so serious to a point that his members use it against it him.

Ex: specifically during practice, he’s feeling a little sluggish from the sheer amount of energy being used in their choreo being run again for what feels like the 1000th time and he just wants to lay down or goof off? He can’t, because Minjae- being the leader he is, implements a rule as to keep him in check, constantly reminding him: “You can see Y/n after we go through this one more time, so you better focus.” And suddenly he’s locked in, Minjae swears you and the promise of food after is the only thing keeping him standing, but it also pushes Yechan to want to do better knowing you’re watching, just wants to impress you!

Bf!Yechan who cares about you so much that he’s willing to make any love language one of his own!!

Words of affirmation? He’d do it without even knowing and it always leaves you: 🥹 because it’s such a normal thing to him, rolls right off the tongue. He’d be such a good comforter when it comes to his partner, works on reading the room specifically for you because he’d never want to make your feelings seem insignificant to him, is so good at verbalizing that too :,)

Acts of service? “What do I get in return?” Is his answer 99.9% of the time when you ask him to do something, and as I previously mentioned, that 1% is him already fully expectant of receiving something for his efforts. He’ll tease, but is always willing to do what you ask of him.

Gift giving? Just thought of this but have you seen those holiday themed gift baskets? I feel like he’d understand the hype, goes out of his way to put one together for you but it’s full of silly things he’d get a kick out of. He’d get you stuff that he knows you like, of course, but for the most part he’s like “Isn’t this what a holiday gift basket is?” And it’s full of generic things associated with the specific holiday and that doesn’t pertain to you in the slightest. He’d never learn, does it every year, thinks it’s so funny when you’re like “Huh???” At some of the stuff he put in. I feel like he’s also the type to put together a bouquet for you made from hand picked wildflowers instead of store bought ones, seems like something he’d do :b hand written love letters always, ugh i just want to punch his cheeks, he’d be so warm and pink in the face when giving it to you!!

Quality time? Loves bringing you everywhere, you just make every experience much more enjoyable, it’s like taking a piece of home with him, and if he’s ever feeling stressed or anxious he’ll never be worried for long because you’re there. If the both of you are abroad for his schedule and he’s a little spooked by the amount of people that await for him and his members, he’s dragging you away for some alone time, away from the noise. Loves big, long, comfy hugs, always needs one before performing, usually closes his eyes and lets himself sink completely into your arms.

Physical touch? A sucker for it, truly. Frequently uses your thighs as a pillow no matter your location, and sometimes holding your hand while walking just isn’t enough, results in him waddling behind you with his arms securely wrapped around your torso 😔 does it for as long as he can.

Bf!Yechan who is so warm and kind it’s making me sob!!!!!

#bf!xikers #lee yechan #lee yechan x reader #lee yechan imagines #lee yechan xikers #xikers lee yechan #xikers yechan #xikers yechan x reader #xikers imagines #xikers x reader #xikers #xikers fluff #xikers soft hours

[night-dazai]

requesting an ango x reader where reader gets hostage and ango just flips the hell out because he hasn't realize his s/o has been kidnapped for 2 days and his ass is so overworked he didn't know 😭

In the end he gets back to his s/o safe and sound 💕

Note: Sorry took a lot longer almost a month, was not feeling so good for the past weeks.

Let's Go Home :

Tags: angst, kidnapping, comfort and fluff

Heavy eye bags, dead eyes, messy hair sweating in an air-conditioned room. Ango stood staring at the big screen in front of him, people near him froze seeing the hacked screen where you lay on the floor beaten and bruised. Dress torn, bleeding from your lips and a little from the head and unconscious your body lay while someone angled the camera to your puffy face strained with tears and blood “Release him, Jay whom you arrested a week ago if not she is done for good “ a voice said showing your face and chuckling another voice spoke .” Hey hey she is such a beauty lets not let it go to waste “ hearing that voice few more voices broken into laughter as the screen went black.

Coughing and wheezing you slowly open your eyes, which hurt. Your entire body hurt but your head hurt even more and so did your hands which were tied behind your back as you sat in the chair trying to look up at the men looking at you. “Your bf sure loves you I think he looked so horrified, “ one said. Words were heard but it was hard to process “Ango….” you thought “Sa….me” you mumbled before fainting once again recalling that night ……………………………….

“It is my fault …it is my fault “ he mumbled to himself holding his head and almost tearing his hair out. Ranpo was looking at the files he had shown about Jay while the director of ADA was talking with Mori “It has been 2 days, it is very risky now but since they showed she is alive …we can try I guess” he said while the director just listened staring at Ango.

His heart was beating fast, very fast for the past few hours and all he could imagine were the worst possible things those men could do to someone like you. A normal person who has no idea what about the cruel underground world.”If only I took her calls, if only…..I was there …”

“I should have never fought, even if I did I should have gone and said sorry. I should have not left her alone … She is not involved in this world at all ……” he thought his nails scrapping his scalp when a bandaged hand yanked it from his hair “Enough we found a location if Ranpo’s guess is the right its to best to go fast, “ he said.

Ango could hardly process what was happening, he tried searching for you for hours but had no clue but the moment the mafia and ADA joined hands it was in 4 hours they found your location, was he too tired to search, was he angry at himself for not taking your calls ? he did not know but he knew one thing “ they are going to regret it “ he said following Dazai and Ranpo out.

“Please take it I am sorry “ you kept thinking clutching the phone as if it were your life you kept calling your lover “Please ango I am sorry “ you mumbled keeping it close to your ear as the ring went and went and said the person had not taken the call. Tears ran down your face, you both fought yesterday night when he came home late for the 1000th time according to you “I was forced to work okay “ he said rubbing his temples indicating he was annoyed “If you do not want me in the house.... fine “ he said in a low tone and before you could react he had left the house and did not come home in the morning also.

In the morning when the doorbell rang, you ran to it thinking about how to say sorry, but something told you to take a look at the window near it and there stood 5 men one with a gun talking to the others.

Running inside you hid in your closet and called your lover but he did not take the phone, and it did not take long for the kidnappers to find you and here you were fainted all bloody and beaten up thinking how you shouted at your already overworked boyfriend “ I am sorry …” was all you could think.

“No more ..it hurts ….” when your whole body pain was felt again as you slowly started to gain conciseness you just wanted to rest. But no people were screaming and shouting, there were some harsh words “What was…was it…..” you paid a little closer attention “ Chuuya!” said a loud voice “she is in that room “.

The voice sounded familiar but you could not place it on anyone and instant gunshots were heard, but you could not move or do anything and at this point, your body was on the verge of collapse “ Ango…..be safe….” you thought and fainted as you a bright light in front of you.

The room door which burst open had Ango rushing into you while destruction and chaos were behind him. His hands skilled but trembling untied you from the chair, and he slapped your face gently “Wake up…wake up…y/n….” he said but you did not wake up.

Ranpo came in and stood at the entrance, he knew Ango for reasons and many knew him for various reasons but none were good. They have seen him smile and laugh but not one person has seen him this devastated. Dazai smiled a little standing next to Ranpo “ he found some he truly loves I guess “ he said.

Ango was rocking your cold body mumbling “You are safe …please see me y/n ..open your eyes please” his eyes were wet with tears “Let's take her to the office and get her treated “ Dazai said placing a hand on hso shoulder .

Your head had a sharp sting “Again….” you thought “Voice…just voc-Ango ?” you mumbled slowly opening your eyes. The room was brightly lit it took your eyes a few seconds to adjust but once it did you saw your lover.

Ango was talking to the director or ADA and Mori while the doctor lady from ADA was adjusting your IV “Ango..” you mumbled again a bit louder gaining all their attention.

He rushed to you, holding your hand “Y/n..yes me I am here ….i am here “ he said. His voice broke as he kept saying sorry, his hands were trembling. You have never seen your boyfriend like this and you also did not like this. You wanted to tell him it's okay and it's not this fault, you wanted to comfort him but your throat hurt at the thought of speaking loud.

Collecting any strength you had you pulled him closer by his shirt, hugging his neck you kissed his cheek “ I love you …” cough ..” home.. let's go home “you said. Your words made the man lose all kind of control and sob in your weak little arms but it felt so strong and warm as everyone left the room.

#bsd x y/n #bsd x you #bsd fanart #bsd #bsd x reader #bsd x female reader #bsd x gender neutral reader #ango sakaguchi #bsd ango #bungou stray dogs dazai #bungo stray dogs x reader #bungo stray dogs #bungo stray dogs x you #bungo stray dogs ango #ango x reader #ango x y/n #night dazai

[nicoliputski]

Protecc babygurl Eren!

For @horkneebean winner of my 1000th follower art giveaway on twitter 🥰

She requested possessive Levi and this meme came to my mind 😂

#rivaere #riren #levi ackerman #eren yeager #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #snk #fanart #artist on tumblr

[slytherinshua]

warning: sappiness ahead fr

it's been 424 days since i started my blog, and here we are.

1000 followers.

1000.

10 to the power of 3.

that is, in fact, a lot of people.

i can't even begin to understand how 1000 people like my writing. i think that it will still take me a while to feel like a good writer, even though i've just accomplished this milestone of followers.

i feel like a novice all the time, because, well, i've only been writing since january of 2022 (613 days, if i've calculated correctly). this hobby of mine was spontaneous and new and is still something i need to get a lot better at. i never wrote when i was younger apart from academic essays, it just wasn't something i found interesting, but since i've gotten into fanfiction, i've found my place where i can write and be creative.

the sincerest thank you to everyone who likes my writing. whether you were my first follower or my 1000th follower, i love you.

somehow this has started to feel like a well thought out thank you speech for some big occasion, even though it's just funny old tumblr dot com where little zanna reached a milestone. but this feels like an eventful day, but i'm still writing just whatever comes to my mind, none of this post was planned beforehand.

i want to really really thank the people who have been a big part of my life, my tumblr moots and close friends. (more sappiness ahead ew)

@eternalgyu hannie is the entire reason i am even writing on this platform. she was the start to everything, from the very second i created this blog to now, she's been here for all 424 days. and i can't even understand why she has stuck with me for that long, but i love her more than anyone else on this planet. i've dumped all my ideas on her and given her spoilers for fics i was writing. she's given me so many ideas and suggestions that have really helped along the way to create this blog and get it to where it is today. she will always be number 1 for me. she is irreplaceable. hannie, i love you so much.

@blue-jisungs axe :D the first blog i followed, and my first moot. she has been here from before i hit 100 followers. she's read my shitty old writing from when this blog was just starting to form. and i thank her for sticking with me cause my writing back then was not the greatest, let's just say that. axe has always been someone i looked up to, especially when i was first starting. i loved her writing and it inspired a lot of the first fics i wrote for this blog!! she'll always be one of my closest friends, i love her so much.

@hannahsophie0103 thank you for being one of the first people to send in requests, and for continuing to give me ideas. i get a lot of requests now, but when this blog was still a fetus, my inbox sat empty for weeks and weeks. i got so inspired and motivated whenever i got a request, and writing was truly so fun whenever i felt like i was writing for someone.

sorry for lumping you all together, but all my caratblr moots, i love you so much. everyone in the moot circle especially-- who i've talked to on the discord server-- you are some of my closest friends, and i love how we're all here, just writing some silly little fics for seventeen on tumblr. some of you have absolutely incredible writing that i can only hope to achieve one day. when i read some of your fics, it feels like actual art. words strung together so beautifully that i can say with no hesitation that you've created an actual masterpiece. thank you for inspiring me and talking to me daily, i hope you haven't gotten bored of me. you all feel like my close friend group, who i could share anything with and you'd still support and love me. thank you for being friends with me, and i love you.

i think that we've passed all the sappy speech part yay!! now to announce my 1K follower event :) *drum roll*

the love sight event.

what's the love sight event, you may ask? well, although i had dozens of ideas for what to do once i reached 1K, i decided that since txt was the start for this blog, i wanted them to be the centre of my event.

love sight will be a multiple part series where each member of txt will get their own fic.

i've put a lot of thought and planning into this event (only the planning though, i have a long way to go for actually writing the fics, but i'll get there eventually). i expect that actually completing this event will take... a very long time. so please bear with me as i write these fics!!

i have some other things planned soon for fics, such as the caratsland song event and some possible collaborations, so if there is a wait between fics for love sight, i'm sorry about that!!

i hope you all really enjoy the event, and once again, thank you. all 1000 of you, thank you so much. - zanna

#slytherinshua's 1k event!!

[greycaelum]

Hi Grey! Can I submit a request for Kaleidoscope Series: Love Me Now, Love Me Never Chapters. Scene #9 and #18.

[Gentle Affection Collections]

Jujutsu Kaisen: Gojo Satoru X Reader

[Gentle Affection Collections]

Request 9 & 18 [ List is Here ]

—first kisses & short pecks

Notes & Warning: teasing, pure fluff

"Pardon the sudden disappearance. I just finished our exams and been moving to and fro cities. October 16th was the 1000th day of Satoru's sealing and here's my little something for the 1001th day. Thanks to Ia for that note. I hope you enjoy and thank you for joining!" —Grey

Rainfall

Large beads of water tear down the window glass. The grey skies turned darker and darker as the sun finally settled down. Umbrellas are raised all over the streets and the sound of puddles splashing as cars pass by in a hurry to get home fills the dusk of Tokyo.

In the confines of your kitchen, you huddled by the corner of the counter waiting for your macaroni cream soup to simmer. Rain has always kept this small part of your heart a little anxious and a little soothed at the same time. Probably because of the monotonous pattering of the rainfall that seems to drown everything in the background. And while that could be a problem, that also gives you the excuse to stay in the house than braving the elements to report at work.

Though that doesn't apply to a certain someone.

The door chimed open followed by the sound of slippers being exchanged. His footsteps heavy against the floor walks blindly to the bathroom with familiarity.

The pot piped up telling you the soup was ready to be served. Outside, the rain has started to pour heavier, beating down the roof. It couldn't have made the bowl in your hand as you move to the couch of the living room warmer and cozier under the warm light of the fluorescent lamp.

Satoru walk in your figure huddled on the couch with a blanket on your legs and your bowl perched on your lap as you take dips of the creamy soup. The silence wasn't strange. Comfortable if you must be specific. The silent shuffling and the lullaby of the rain spoke for the two of you.

The edge of the couch dip and a warm body huddled close to your side. Satoru with his blindfold exchanged for a pair of sunglasses kissed your shoulders before scrolling through the channels of prime-time shows.

And that Gojo Satoru is but a man. And you're but a lady ready to take that leap he is offering only for you.

His barging into your home is not an unusual occurrence. It has become a recurring fact that Satoru basically squeezes himself into your one-bedroom apartment when he's not working. Not that you're complaining when you realize you have become a part of his idea of what a 'home' is.

Your friends warned you about the sudden leap. You know who he is, and what entails when you welcome Gojo Satoru into your life. 

You blew on the spoon and offered it to his lips. It's almost like feeding a frail bird when he takes the soup in and whines when you pulled the spoon from his mouth.

You feel your heart squeeze annoyingly at the sight of his pouting face waiting for more, long white lashes batting at you as his lower lip jutted out. His messy snow-white hair a bit damp splayed all over your shoulder blades. He looks like a mess—a pretty ball of mess nonetheless. You smile, slowly stretching your fingers out to brush his hair away making the corners of his artic lashes curl and look at you full of curiosity.

"Does an indirect kiss count as our first kiss?"

Your hand stops its movement as you gaze at Satoru's vivid orbs blinking blearily at you, a little grin playing against his lips. The glimpse of his white fangs in that grin told you, you were in for another of his shenanigans. Nothing too high to pay anyway.

"Do you want it to count as one?"

Your feel your cheeks warm at the sight of his beautiful blue eyes and his hoarse voice. You reach your hand out to place your hand against his cheek, brushing your knuckles on his cheekbone. It still amazes you how you easily slip past his infinity. He nuzzles into your hand while pressing a singular peck to the space between your wrists. His glasses were stripped off his eyes letting you see his bare ocean eyes.

"For a man trying to court me, you sure took a long route just for a kiss." You whisper and the next thing you registered his soft lips pressed against yours. 

Unable to deprive him and yourself any longer you lean closer to kiss him the way you want to be kissed, eyes fluttering closed. Both of your lips move in sync as if they were meant for one another. You could feel him smile into the kiss but before he pulls away, placing his hand on top of yours which was resting against his cheek.

"Taste like cream and mushroom."

You scoffed at his uncalled remark. Your eyes met in a glint of longing and happiness as the two of you burst into laughs. Never thinking your first kiss would be so silly but having nothing else than the mundane feeling of simple happiness shared between you in the comforts of each other's presence.

"Well next time I'll make sure to eat tons of garlic and kiss you." You huffed making him chuckle.

Satoru's eyes stare at you filled with adoration that you could melt under his gaze.

Before you could excuse yourself to get him a bowl of the soup a hand pushed past the hair covering your nape and gently guided you close to his face. Satoru languidly kisses you in your stupor. He made sure to kiss you deeply, feeling the way your lips move like honey, slow and lingering with his. His tongue swept past your lower lip asking for entrance that you cannot deny. Tantalizing kisses filled with passion and yearning as you both can't get enough of the crawling burn to feel yourselves drown in the world where only the two of you matter.

"That's the second," you push his chest away and breathe with your foreheads against each other.

"Hmmm, and this is the third." His finger found your chin and swiftly delve down to rob a quick kiss. A victorious smirk adorned his supple pink lips watching your face from surprised morph to a pout.

"Alright one more," Satoru giggled and puckered his lips dramatically making you squirm and wiggle out of his hold.

"No thanks."

"Hey! You don't like my kisses anymore?"

He barked as you ran off to the kitchen, sticking your tongue out at him and depositing the dishes in the sink.

Heavy footsteps followed you and one arm trapped you, pushed against the sink while the other wrapped around your hips rubbing lazy circles with his thumb. Satoru pressed his forehead against your nape, pressing short lingering kisses down the curve of your spine. His tired head fell on the spaces of your shoulder as he watches you wipe the bowl clean.

He never thought in his 25 years of existence that love could be this simple and tranquil. Never thought that in his chaotic life, he will have a home that'll be so mundane and warm. To find someone like you and be his harbor after the storm. The rain outside seems to agree with him as it continues to pour relentlessly. But that's alright, you're both perfectly warm in each other's arms like this.

"What are you thinking in that smart pea brain of yours?" You wipe your hands and turn around to see a profound look on Satoru's face while gazing at you.

It didn't take you long to bury your face into his chest and punch him weakly. Muttering a small 'stupid 'Toru' as he wraps an arm around you while fondly stroking your hair.

It was a quick moment and you felt his lips once more press a kiss, swift and clumsy, and another, gentle and teasingly pulling on your lower lip, and one more sweet and lingering before grinning like a boy who got what he wished for Christmas. 

His heart preened at the flush of your cheeks and the natural rose tint of your full adorable plumps, eyes staring at him with faint accusation and yet shining more brightly than ever.

"We gotta celebrate our first kiss Baby and coz I love you I'll share a bit of my Otaru's raw cheese with you~!"

"If you really love me share the whole thing, stingy!"

"EHE~EHEHE~HEHEHE~"

—GreyCaelum,

PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME

Check out the Masterlist for more

All rights and credits of the Jujutsu Kaisen character(s) mentioned image(s) and song(s) used belongs to their respective owner(s)

General Series Taglist: @ice-icebaby @aeanya @gumidreams @tender-rosiey

#[gentle affection collections] #gojo satoru x reader #gojo satoru x civilian reader #jjk gojo #jjk fluff #gojo satoru fluff #gojo fluff #greycaelum #gojo satoru imagines #jujutsu kaisen imagines #gojo satoru #gojo satoru fanfic #jujutsu kaisen #gojo satoru x y/n #gojo x you

[atierrorian]

hi there!!

could you maybe write a scaramouche x reader?? preferably one where the reader teases people a lot, but when others tease her, she blushes very quickly and can’t handle it at all?

Aw! That's so cute!! but yes I can write this request so don't you worry Anon! But this idea is soo cute!! Ps this will contain spoilers if you haven't done the Archon quest or something like that so if you don't like getting spoiled do no interact!! (You can still interact, not like I can stop you with just a couple of texts lmao.) This will contain fluff and maybe a bit of angst Such a tease and yet such a flustered one~

[Name] as usual was doing their own thing. They are actually part of the Fatui. Scaramouche and [Name] are together now. [Name] Knew Scaramouche way before they were even in the Fatui, or when the Fatui found them. It all started when Scaramouche wasn't known as Scaramouche but as Kunikuzushi. "Kunikuzishi wait up!" Younger [Name] said running to where Kuni and a little boy was. "[Name]!" The little boy said and ran towards where [Name] was. "Aw did you miss me? Aw your just so adorable!! Your sooo cute!!" [Name] said and hugged the little boy. Kunikuzushi followed the hug and hugged the both of them. The two thought they would finally find a real and true friend for the both of them and live happily with just the three of them. But not all Stories have a happy ever after do they? The both of them came home and thought the little boy would greet them like usual. But when they opened the door.. All the greeting they would get was their friend lying on a bunch of Sakura petals that acted like a death bed to the boy. Both of them were well upset. [Name] Was sad and on the verge of tears. Kunikuzushi however was also upset and angry. [Name] was already crying at this point while wiping her tears away, when all of the sudden Kunikuzishi grabbed their hand and stormed off. [Name] Smelled something burning behind them and when they turned around.. The house was on fire and broken down!?!? "Wait Kunikuzishi what did you do!?! The little boy is still in there!" [Name] Cried out while trying to free herself from his tight grasp. "There's no point [Name].. This world is filled with filth and you know it.. That boy broke our Promise! He's dead anyways already" KuniKuzushi said. [Name] was just silent. They knew he was right. The first time they've met someone was a friend. A friend both of them thought that they would be together and considered him as a family and thought that the three of them could be happy. But in the end. He saw them as an abomination. And now this? Well if that's how the world wants it to be.. Then so be it. And so the two walked together holding each other's hands tightly and promising each other that It's just going to the two of them. And no one else was allowed to ruin that. "Kuni~!" [Name] said in a singing voice while running towards where Scaramouche was. "[Name] please keep it down I already told you if you were going to use my old name keep it to a minimum." Scaramouche said. "Aw alright! Anyways Isn't it insane how the Akademiya are making you into a God because they didn't accept The Lesser Lord Kusanali!~" [Name] said and hugged Scaramouche.

"Sigh I know [Name] you already told me 1000th times already this day." Scaramouche said. If it were anybody hugging him or even teasing him, they would already be laying on the ground dead. But this was [Name]. The person that has been with him throughout when he was still called KuniKuzushi. And his Lover. It wasn't new for [Name] to tease the living heck out of Scaramouche. In fact he really did liked it. But of course he wouldn't admit that! That would ruin his pride and ego.. But that doesn't mean he won't tease back. "Aw but Kuni!~ Aw your just so adorable! But not as adorable as you used to back when we were just so new to the world!~" [Name] said and squished cheeks. "Aw you still have some of your chubby cheeks left!~ I remember you used to have it!~" [Name] said.

[Name] Still kept teasing and squishing his cheeks when all of the sudden. The positions were now switched and that it was Scaramouche's turn to Tease [Name] back. [Name] felt so flustered at that moment. I mean it's not like it's the first time. It's just surprising since Scaramouche hadn't been doing this much, not even when he was still called KuniKuzushi.

"Aw where did the all and mighty teasing [Name] go?~ Cat got your tongue that you became mute all of the sudden?~" Scaramouche said while lightly smirking. "Shut up! Thi- This was surprising okay?! You don't normally do this so it surprised me! That's all.." [Name] trying to defend themselves.

"Aw are you sure?~" Scaramouche said while chuckling lightly. [Name] was still stunned and blushing all over. When Scaramouche finally let them go [Name] was pouting slightly and crossing their arms while Scaramouche was just lightly chuckling at their reaction. Such a tease and yet such a flustered one~

Ooc again but this is cute okay so.

And this is finally out of my Drafts as well!

#atier's works✎ #Scaramouche #Scaramouche x reader #Kunikuzushi x reader #Genshin x reader #Genshin impact x reader #Fluff #Angst

[kamuyagi]

Congrats to @reptired my 1000th follower (!!) who got to request this Beel ✧⁺⸜(●′▾‵●)⸝⁺✧ Hooray for 1000+ followers, thank you everyone so much (๑′̥̥̥▵‵̥̥̥ ૂ๑)

#reptired #draw beel beefy and tan?? hell yeah I will #beel #obey me #beelezebub #i will be doing another raffle but like I still gotta finish up the prizes for my 500th ahhh #im osrry it taking me so long lots been goin on ;;

[potatomountain]

BTW I'm a few followers short of 1k!!!

I can't believe I've managed to get that far?? Should I do something as a 1k special?

#1k followers #1k special #almost there #ateez fanfic writer

[bizarrequazar]

GJ and ZZH Updates — February 26-March 4

<<< previous week || all posts || following week >>>

This is part of a weekly series collecting updates from and relating to Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan.

This post is not wholly comprehensive and is intended as an overview, links provided lead to further details. Dates are in accordance with China Standard Time, the organization is chronological. My own biases on some things are reflected here. Anything I include that is not concretely known is indicated as such, and you’re welcome to do your own research and draw your own conclusions as you see fit. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or additions. :)

[Glossary of names and terms] [Masterlist of my posts about the situation with Zhang Zhehan]

02-26 → Gong Jun flew back to Beijing.

02-27 → Fresh posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun, shortly followed by a promotional video.

→ Madame Tussauds posted a gif that used shots of Gong Jun from The Flaming Heart, Dream Garden, Rising with the Wind, and their own photoshoot with him.

02-28 → 1000th day since Word of Honor filming began.

→ Gong Jun posted a douyin from his trip to Thailand. Caption: “Thailand travel guide” with “guide” (gonglue) written with the gong from his name. BGM is Small Town Summer by LBI利比, one of the songs he sang for his New Year’s Eve performance. Fan Observations:  -  He’s been including images of trees a lot recently.   -  A review of the Small Town Summer candy: It’s a song about falling in love in the summer while listening to Jay Chou.

→ Deeyeo posted a teaser image for their upcoming endorsement with Gong Jun. (1129 kadian) Caption: “He can freely switch between different roles, and he has made breakthroughs in various challenges[.] 9:00 on March 2, stay tuned!”

03-01 → At midnight in all timezones, Zhang Zhehan’s music released by Xinxi (ie. the Light and Another Me albums) were removed from Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon Music. It was noticed soon after that these songs had also been moved from YoYo Rock’s main YouTube channel to their indie channel, where they were unlisted but at that time could be found through a public playlist. Fan Observations: -  The scammers and whalers were all silent on the topic, suggesting that this was not their doing, if it was CAPA’s doing it should have happened long ago, and if it was a matter of contracts expiring it’s surprising that both albums would be affected at once.   -  The most likely explanation at the time of this post is that either Zhang Zhehan or Xinxi specifically requested for the songs to be removed, Zhang Zhehan being more probable as Xinxi’s main concern would be the revenue gained from the songs still being up.  -  The purpose of having Zhang Zhehan’s old songs in the same place as the new stolen ones is to give the new songs the impression of legitimacy, so taking them down counters that. [full breakdown of the above points]   -  The fact that YoYo Rock moved and unlisted them was likely to try to avoid copyright claims. It’s possible that this was in response to a cease and desist. Addition 03-05: [breakdown about the YoYo Rock videos]

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted his schedule for March: magazine shoots on 03-02 and 03-05, event on 03-04. Caption: “Spring is blooming, the sky is clear and the air is fresh! Boss @ Gong Jun Simon's March itinerary is coming, the new month is full of energy!” BGM is 春之行 by 灰澈. Fans left comments en masse on the post asking the studio to take action against recent anti activity. 

→ Deeyeo posted a teaser of their commercial with Gong Jun that would release the following day. (1129 kadian)

→ Gong Jun posted three photos of himself with a dog to his Xiao Hong Shu, advertising Tangle Teezer’s pet brush. (14:06, 1640 kadian) Tangle Teezer later posted a behind the scenes video of the photoshoot.

→ Madame Tussauds posted a video of their photoshoot with Gong Jun. Fan Observations:  -  In the video, he signs a book with the date 2021-07 (exact date cut). This led to speculation of if it was originally intended for there to be matching wax models of both Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan.  -  It was noted that on 2021-05-10, Zhang Zhehan wore a very similar white suit by the same brand as the one Gong Jun wore for the Madame Tussauds photoshoot.

03-02 → Gong Jun posted the full commercial he did for Deeyeo, formally announcing his endorsement with them. This was reposted by his studio and Deeyeo. Deeyeo also posted a photo ad and a promotional video with the announcement. 

→ 361° posted two photo ads featuring Gong Jun. (1129 kadian) Fan Observation: The blue jacket is called 云舒防晒衣, with 云舒 being the same as in the Word of Honor line “Take a lover’s hand, and watch the clouds unfold,” referencing Zhou Zishu’s name (episode 25).

→ Zhang Sanjian appeared briefly at an airport in a paparazzi livestream accompanied by Xie Yihua, wearing baggy clothing, a hat, glasses, and a mask. No one said his name.

→ The unlisted YoYo Rock videos were found to have been privated.

→ Madame Tussauds posted nine old photos of Gong Jun.

03-03 → Deeyeo posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ Gong Jun posted sixteen photos from his trip to Thailand with a caption playing on the lyric “You know you don’t know (你知不知道 不知道)” replacing “buzhidao” with “pujidao” (Phuket Island). He also posted the photos to his Xiao Hong Shu, caption: “I didn’t have fun!  As if 🤭” and Instagram, caption: “Happy Time !” (11:17, 511 kadian) Fan Observation: Possible ring sighting in the first photo.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted an additional nine photos of the Thailand trip. Caption: “Green trees by the sea, resting along the road, please check the travel postcards from boss @ Gong Jun Simon.” 

→ Gong Jun’s 2017 drama Advance Bravely became available for streaming on Viki.

→ Gong Jun liked two videos on Douyin, one about a dog who “wants to love you unconditionally” and another of an older woman talking about how having a good husband made a hard life easier. It was noted that the date had three 3s in it, Zhang Zhehan’s favourite number.

03-04 → Tangle Teezer posted a promotional video spoken by Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)

→ Madame Tussauds made a post announcing that the unveiling of Gong Jun’s statue would be shown on a livestream that afternoon.

→ Deeyeo posted a short Q&A video with Gong Jun. [subbed video] Fan Observation: When asked which of his past roles he’s most similar to he said Yuan Che from Love Lost in Times. Yuan Che’s most notable characteristics are that he’s extremely loyal, and that he waited a long time for his love interest to return.

→ A livestream was streamed showing Gong Jun touring Madame Tussauds, then the unveiling ceremony. (full recording in above link)  Fan Observations / Highlights:  -  It was emphasized that new technology was used to make the figure feel more lifelike. Guests are allowed to touch it. [subbed clip]  -  Gong Jun commented that the fingernails are too long, he keeps his shorter. (The hands look very off in general tbh.) [clip] He also made a lot of comments about his abs lol.  -  When talking about being approached to make the statue, he said “approached us”, and when he was addressing someone with the surname Zhang he said “Zhang-lao— Zhang... Zhang-zong” [clips]  -  Many noted that the pose looks as if it was meant to have someone else standing beside it, with people comparing it to the Tom Ford event specifically.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted nine photos of Gong Jun touring Madame Tussauds. Caption: “No time to explain the new style of aesthetics at the beginning, and boss @ Gong Jun Simon uses a different fashion attitude to create a modern new force.”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted six photos from the unveiling. Caption: “Through the modern tunnel, boss @ Gong Jun Simon and ‘Second Jun’ appeared at Madame Tussauds Shanghai, weaving fashion trends with original colors.”

→ Madame Tussauds posted another six photos from that day. They also posted additonal photos and a making-of video to their WeChat.

Addition 03-05: ONOFFON Collection made a post highlighting their jacket that Gong Jun had worn to the event.

Additional Reading: → Flora’s daily fan news → My own observation: The Instagram was unusually inactive this week.

<<< previous week || all posts || following week >>>

This post was last edited 2023-03-05.

#There is (a tiny bit of possible) news about zzh! #Also a lot of candy #some of it painful #Zhang Zhehan #Gong Jun #Word of Honor #woh cast #lld timeline

[lostdrarryfics]

Hi! Do you know this drarry fic where they used to lived together but draco moved out because he was afraid of their budding relationship? I also remembered a part where they meet again during a party or something… draco follows harry into the garden and saw harry smoking. Then draco ask harry why he’s smoking again, and harry answers it with something like “you used to live with me, things change”

Thank you in advance!

Congratulations, you have submitted our 1000th lost fic request! Your prize is this fic, which we believe is what you’re looking for :)

Some Dance to Remember, Some Dance to Forget (5k, M) by @l0vegl0wsinthedark

Don’t forget to bookmark, leave kudos and comments!

#request 1000 #found fic #sushipoet #l0vegl0wsinthedark

[fallensnowfan]

My 1000th post, here it is! I want to do something I've never done before in this way, taking suggestions for short writing prompts! I'm figuring this out as I go so bear with me.

I'm opening this for one prompt and one-two characters to be chosen by followers, then I'll write a short scenario around them. Please send your requests in replies to this post and I'll start posting them in a few days. I can’t promise I'll get around to all of them but I'll do my best.

Prompts list:

-Gift

-Vacation

-Injury

-Music

-Cooking/baking

-Ice cream

-Lost

-New

-Games

-First meeting

-Clothes

-Bad habit

-Flower picking

-Sweet tooth

-Accessory

-Heatwave

-Mentor(taken)

-Hike

-Alcohol/sake

Characters I'll write for, mostly sticking with characters I've written before.

Luffy, Nami, Chopper, Robin, and Franky.

Nojiko, Bell-mere, Conis, Baroque Works agents from the New Spider Cafe, Perona, and Marco.

Kin'emon, Kiku(taken), Izo, Denjiro, Neko, Inu, Kawamatsu, Tsuru, Toki(taken), Hiyori, Tama, and Toko.

Ulti, Page One, and Black Maria.

Thank you for reading and following.

[alena-draws]

Oh! I just made my 1000th post here! :DD  (also the way the follower count got up over the last weeks, there’ll be a request night again for the 3000 number count not too far away....)

#text

[flamingtunapictures]

Spiritfarer Review - 8/10

Tl:dr - Spiritfarer offers a profoundly emotional story with an engaging cast of characters, beautiful artistic execution, and a sentimentally charged soundtrack. However, as a “game,” it toes the line between cozy and tedious, unfortunately falling to the latter more often than not.

—

While Spiritfarer is certainly a polished product, the core design choices reveal a system that ultimately frustrates the resource-management genre: turning cozy mundanity into monotony and, ironically, getting in the way of it’s own story.

Resource Efficiency is an Illusion - Resource-management games are defined by balancing early-game tedium with late-game automation/efficiency to maximize every second of gameplay. In Spiritfarer, there is a lot of unavoidable dead time (see section “Back and Forth and then Back Again”) in addition to perpetually high demands of a player’s attention just to acquire raw materials. It doesn’t matter if you’re processing your first log or your 1000th log, you have to “play” a precision cutting mini-game every time. This process can never be automated, and, even after finding the efficiency upgrade, will still require you to earnestly play the mini-game to maximize the output. Save for perhaps farming, flour processing, and cooking/fermenting, 90% of the resources in this game cannot be automated. 

Variety Does Not Guarantee “Fun” - Almost every resource has some kind of “mini-game” or drawn-out action tied to it. There are at least 12+ independent “activities” you cannot avoid in order to harvest resources. These are also scattered throughout the entirety of the vast map. While initially interesting, the activities can quickly degrade into chores. “Need to build that new house for your new passenger? Oh, you need 15 more wood first. Now you have to dedicate 5-10 minutes processing that wood, assuming you don’t first have to travel to an island out of your way to harvest it. Oh, and harvesting requires you to move your joystick back and forth in a specific way a couple of times too. Oops, can’t remember the quantity you needed for that building? Guess you have to run back to the blue-print table to check, then back to whichever facilities or islands you need to use to finish gathering the materials.” The drudgery stems from the fact that none of the “mini-games” are particularly “fun” after the first few runs.

Animation/Action Length - The animation lengths in this title are a nuisance with no way to skip or abbreviate them. Despite being expertly executed, they are unnecessarily long: often drawn out with extensive anticipated and follow through actions. When tasks and actions are expected to be performed tens, if not hundreds of times, every unnecessary second becomes increasingly aggravating. For example, shearing the sheep takes an entire 6 seconds. The initial encounter is endearing and informative: the everlight becomes the shears; the sheep is nervous to be shorn; then, in a fanciful blur of action… wool is harvested! But every single time, for only 2 pieces of wool? The animation could easily take 3 seconds or be entirely skipped after the first encounter, instead. The smithy and ore harvesting (when you accidentally overexert) were other offenders unequivocally guilty of this.

Back and Forth then Back Again

This entire game is a constant back-and-forth fetch quest with resource walls and travel distances that wedge in indefinite plot “intermissions,” and fatten the gameplay with “dead-time.” Take the Shipyard upgrades for example. Upgrades are required to progress the game and fulfill character requests, as many locations exist beyond geographic barriers. Assume you are ready to upgrade your ship, but when you get to the Shipyard you realize you are short on a single resource by only 1 or 2 quantities (i.e nebular thread). This single resource happens to be one you cannot farm on your boat. It also happens to be on the opposite side of the map. Even by taking the most efficient route with Alex’s bus stops, you will probably need 10-15 minutes to:

Travel to the bus stop

Sit through the fast-travel animation/loading time

Reset your navigation and wait for the ship to get to the resource location

“Play” the mini game (and hope you get enough resource in the single round)

Process the material (if needed)

Travel back to the bus stop

Wait for the fast-travel animation again

Reset your navigation back to the Shipyard and wait for the boat to travel (again)

Wait for the boat to “anchor” and the dingy to become available

Finally pay for the upgrade.

This is a very common step analysis for almost every story-oriented task in this game; it is an example of a process that can never be made more efficient beyond anticipatory farming.

In many cases however, even that cannot mitigate the amount of time you spend bouncing between one or two locations multiple times just to get a few seconds of plot-significant exchange for a single character. Exacerbate this with forced anchoring at night*. Why? I am here for the story, but I can’t complete requests unless I can bounce between locations, which I want to do as efficiently as possible but can’t when I’m forced to anchor at night and waste 30 more seconds pressing unnecessary buttons to “sleep.” Even your boat becomes tedious to cross. As you progress your boat will get bigger, and bigger, and bigger, and bigger; to the point it can take 10s of seconds to get from one end to the other just to harvest, activate, or deliver something. It may not sound like a big deal, but again, considering this game’s strongest quality is its story, all the “dead-time” compounds and gets in its own way.

*iykyk

Is It All Worth It? - When you finally do reach those coveted character moments and dialogues –the glimpses into their background, their life, loves, and regrets –it’s almost worth it. The soft world building and sentimentality are expertly infused into every line, and intrigue for the characters is genuine. Accompany this with the calming yet powerful soundtrack, I am not shy to say I cried at several of their goodbyes. I only wish the game itself, in its (mostly) uninspiring tedium, wasn’t such an obstacle to these moments. It ultimately succeeded in killing my motivation to finish the game, which I heard takes an average of 30 hours to complete.

In conclusion, Spiritfarer offers a truly intriguing premise and narrative, but, as articulated by a friend, the question becomes, “Was ‘game’ really the best way to tell this story?”

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